How Can an Asexual Have a Sex Drive?

Details: Category: Asexuality 101; Published on Friday, 23 September 2011 16:20; Written by Shawn Landis; Hits: 1712

Asexuals know that they can have a sex drive. Aces use the term libidoist and non-libidoist to make the distinction between a person who does have this drive and a person who does not. Someone who just encounters the word for the first time may not understand exactly how this works.

The "factory standard" equipment works. That means that the Asexual will produce testosterone, the hormone that controls the sex drive in both men and women. Libidoist Asexuals do not have this drive "triggered" by another person. It's often triggered by body chemistry.

Non-heteronormative people know the basic problem with this definition. The problem assumes that sexual behavior is the same thing as sexual attraction. A Catholic priest who follows the rules may choose to abstain from intercourse, but his orientation does not change. If he is straight, he will still find women attractive. He simply chooses to follow the rules set forth by the church. A lesbian woman who decides to conceive in the normal manner does not suddenly become attracted to men. The person in each of the above examples is attracted to neither.

The Asexual who has a sex drive may describe it as a biological itch. The individual does not have to succumb to that itch, but they may masturbate to relieve it. When that individual is asked about a hot guy or girl, odds are that the person asked will have been looking at something else.